Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics

Background and Objectives: Undoubtedly, health is one of the most important issues of human life to which different factors can basically contribute. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between death anxiety and spirituality constructs with general health among nursing and midwifery students.

Methods: Study population of this cross-sectional study comprised all students of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in academic year 2015. Of this population, 205 people were selected by random sampling and enrolled in the study. To gather data, 36-item Short Form Health Survey, Death Anxiety Scale, and Daily Spiritual Experience Scale were administered. Data were analyzed by multiple linear regression with stepwise method.

Results: According to Pearson correlation coefficient, general health was significant correlation with death anxiety (r=-0.465, P<0.0001) and spiritual experiences (r=0.685, P<0.0001), and regression analysis indicated that death anxiety and spiritual experiences together explained %45.2 of the variance in general health (B=-0.586 and 0.602 respectively).

Conclusion: Because death anxiety and spiritual experiences are predictors of general health, the students' general health can be promoted by relief of death anxiety and enhancement of spirituality.